Desk Tour: Jenny Jin
A cozy, inspiring hug of a space.
Welcome to Desk Tour, a series where I interview creative folks about their desks and workspaces. In case you missed it: Aja Frost’s and Aliza Sir’s Desk Tour from last time. Scroll to the bottom of this post for the full catalog of Desk Tours.
Have you ever met someone and just immediately felt good? Right away, you know that there is an understanding between the two of you. You get each other. This feeling, I think, is kind of rare. I think it’s even more rare when you only get to hang out with someone in person once or twice, but the feeling sticks around, anyway. This is how I feel about , who I met years and years ago at a beauty industry event. Since then, I’ve followed Jenny’s career and writing from afar. I’ve admired her work, of course, but I’ve also always connected with something about Jenny’s spirit. She is thoughtful, sensitive, and deeply passionate about creativity and life in general. Every time we’ve talked over the years, I’ve left the conversation with the simple comfort of knowing there is someone out there who cares about the same things I do.
I had a feeling all of the things I love about Jenny would be reflected in both her workspace and her thoughts about building a creative life. (Spoiler: I was right.) Jenny recently launched her Substack (Outside In By
), and I think you are really, really going to love it. In the meantime, though, let’s take a look at her office.
OM: Describe your workspace.
JJ: Technically, I have two workspaces: one I aspire to use (an actual desk) and one I actually use (my kitchen table). When I first moved into my apartment, I had every intention of keeping these spaces separate, but I quickly found that I prefer working from my kitchen table because I get better light here and it's closer to the coffee maker and snacks. Also, my kitchen faces a quiet, sunny street, where I can see palm trees through the blinds. Often, when I'm stuck on a sentence, I'll stare out the window and watch the trees sway. I'm getting ready to move at the end of the month, and this serene view from my kitchen is what I'll miss most.
OM: What are your three favorite items on your desk right now?
JJ: Of all the items on my desk/kitchen table right now, my planner is the most used, so I'll start with that. It's a small leather number from Smythson, which makes me sound fancier than I am. My former boss had one, and I always thought it was so chic. Sometime in my mid-20s, I started gifting myself a new planner every Christmas (though in recent years, my mom has graciously taken this over). I write in this thing daily. All of my appointments. Upcoming birthdays and vacations. My laundry list of to-do's. Inspirational quotes. It's all in there. My friends get a kick out of it because any time we go to make plans, they'll whip out their phones to check their calendars and I'll whip out my little paper planner.
Aside from my planner, I love the assortment of silly pens I have on my desk. I figure, why not infuse a little joy into your days wherever you can, right? Also, I've always been a sucker for office supplies of any sort. Rounding out this trifecta of desk items is a small plushie that can be attached to anything. There is no cool way to explain who or what this plushie is, so I'll just state the facts :) Its name is TATA and it's a heart-shaped alien who's part of the BT21 universe, which is a fictional world inhabited by seven other characters that the members of BTS created. Anyway, this particular TATA was an unexpected gift from a new friend I met through dancing, and it makes me smile every time I look at it because it reminds me of this beautiful chapter I've had in Los Angeles, rebuilding my life after a capital B Breakup.
I have a red mug from Yu & Me books, which is the first female owned Asian-American bookstore in New York City. Not long after I moved to LA, my friend, whom I've known since we were both awkward tweens with big dreams, sent me this mug with a card that said, "I can't wait to see your book at this store one day."
OM: Do you keep anything specific at your desk that you use as inspiration to stay creative or positive?
JJ: I have a red mug from Yu & Me books, which is the first female owned Asian-American bookstore in New York City. Not long after I moved to LA, my friend, whom I've known since we were both awkward tweens with big dreams, sent me this mug with a card that said, "I can't wait to see your book at this store one day." Like many other writers and creatives, I am constantly struggling with feelings of imposter syndrome and doubt. Why am I writing this? Who even cares?! Will I ever finish what I started? These are just some of the unkind thoughts that creep in when I'm writing, so to have this visual reminder, this vote of confidence from someone I love and respect so deeply, is priceless to me. I cherish this mug and pull it out whenever I need a gentle push to keep writing.
OM: Is there anything you absolutely HAVE to have at your desk/workspace or you can't be productive?
JJ: This is so cliché, but I've got to have a hot cup of coffee nearby when I write or edit anything. I average about two to three cups every morning. I also open the blinds, light a candle and play some variation of "happy piano music" in the background when I write. I want to make my surroundings feel as calm and as warm as possible, so that hopefully some of that energy infuses into my work on a molecular level.
OM: Is there anything you'd change about your workspace? If so, what?
JJ: For the sake of my health, I think it would be nice to eventually upgrade to a more ergonomic set up. And maybe get one of those small treadmills that sit underneath your desk? Then again, I'm not sure how well that would work in practice. Have you ever tried writing or reading anything while walking—even slowly? I get dizzy just thinking about it. OK, scratch the treadmill. Honestly, as far as my workspace goes, I want for nothing at the moment.
OM: Describe your ideal work day at your desk.
JJ: I'm smiling as I answer this question because I'm having an ideal work day right now. To me, an ideal day starts off deliciously slow. I'm not rushing to sign on for a meeting or wrap up a deadline. In an ideal day, I sit at my desk with a fresh cup of coffee and leisurely catch up on all the newsletters I subscribe to and other stories I have bookmarked but haven't gotten around to reading yet. Then, I write. It could be for 20 minutes or a couple of hours. The length of time doesn't matter so much as how immersed I am during it. This morning, I woke up knowing that I would get to work on this desk tour, and it made me really happy. Thank you, Olivia, for inviting me to share my sparse space with your lovely community of readers, and thank you all for your time.
I'm 36 now, and over the past few years, I've experienced some major upheavals: illness, loss, grief, and then, joy on the other side of all of that. These changes have humbled me to take a step back from my externally focused work as a beauty editor and life as it’s been, and reconnect with my inner self and values.
OM: Where can people find you on the internet?
JJ: I actually just launched a newsletter earlier…called "Outside In" (very much inspired by Olivia, by the way). The name alludes to how our lives tend to look more polished and figured out from the outside looking in, but how that's often just an illusion—at least for me it is. I'm 36 now, and over the past few years, I've experienced some major upheavals: illness, loss, grief, and then, joy on the other side of all of that. These changes have humbled me to take a step back from my externally focused work as a beauty editor and life as it’s been, and reconnect with my inner self and values. I'm trying to sort through all of these conflicting feelings as I contemplate making some bigger changes in my life, which I plan to write about in this newsletter. So, if you're a curious person with big feelings, a person in the middle of a transition or thinking of making one, or a person who is still reading this long-winded elevator pitch, I'd love for you to join me on this journey.
Note from Olivia: If you are a writer and that anecdote about the red mug and the note from Jenny’s friend didn’t make you cry… I simply cannot relate. That one got me right in the gut. There is something so difficult about holding onto the dream of being a writer for years and years, despite the constant self-doubt. It’s what makes having even just one person who believes in you and your work so special. What a special friend to send that mug and note. As expected, Jenny’s thoughts about how and where she works made me feel comforted, inspired, and just… good! That’s Jenny for you. One last reminder to go ahead and subscribe to Jenny’s Substack Outside In — I’m really confident you’ll love it.
Be sure to check out the past editions of Desk Tour:
PS: One last thing before I go… you can order my first novel NOW! I appreciate your consideration, time, and support immensely.
A portion of August’s subscriber proceeds will go toward the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is currently working to build, enforce, protect and defend legal protections for reproductive rights around the world (including in Florida, where I grew up, and there is currently a 6-week abortion ban).
I love Jenny! This is such a sweet and heartwarming article💗
I love the Yu + Me mug!! So happy to see they landed on their feet after the fire